The Rival of the Empress (Italian: La rivale dell'imperatrice) is a 1951 Italian historical adventure film directed by Jacopo Comin and Sidney Salkow and starring Richard Greene, Valentina Cortese and Isa Pola.

A separate English-language version Shadow of the Eagle was released the previous year.

It was shot at the Scalera Studios in Rome[1] with sets designed by Wilfred Shingleton.

Star Richard Greene was dubbed by the Italian actor Massimo Serato.

During the 18th century, the empress of Russia Catherine the Great sends her lover Count Alexei Orloff to kidnap her rival for the throne, the pretender Elizabeth, Princess Tarakanova, from Venice.